US compounder and distributor PolyOne (Cleveland, Ohio; www.polyone.com) has launched a vinyl-based range of materials formulated with a bio-derived plasticiser. The “Geon” Bio products comply with phthalate-restrictive regulations such as California's Prop 65 and the US Consumer Product Safety Initiative Act of 2008 (CPSIA). "Customers benefit as this plant-based, truly non-phthalate flexible vinyl performs at levels equal to or better than materials containing traditional petroleum-based plasticisers," said Michael Garratt, president of performance products and solutions at PolyOne.

The new materials feature a wider processing window and enhanced thermal stability compared with other flexible vinyls, and are suitable for consumer, healthcare, transportation and building products applications, PolyOne said. They are formulated with the company's plant-based “Reflex” 300 plasticiser, which has been tested and certified by the US Department of Agriculture's “BioPreferred” programme to be 99% bio-based. In addition, specific Geon Bio healthcare formulations are pre-certified to meet biocompatibility requirements for US Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI protocols.